Exercise Medicine & Wellbeing (EMpoWER)

EMpoWER is just one of many Research Clusters at Plymouth Marjon University. Click here for details on other Research Clusters.

EMpoWER Introduction

In the EMpoWER cluster, through our EU funded world-class research, we are devoted on advancing our understanding of the mechanisms that exercise and physical activity interact with the pathophysiology of various chronic diseases. Through our research-led teaching, we translate our scientific evidence to new courses and seminars educating the new generation of health care providers as well as informing the current practice with new tools to effectively promote physical activity and wellbeing. Through our clinical trials, we provide the appropriate evidence for incorporating physical activity and systematic exercise as part of the current treatment in various chronic disease conditions in an attempt to improve patient outcomes and deliver a sustainable NHS. All these allow us to effectively evaluate the health, wellbeing and economic benefits of physical activity, sport and exercise in everyday life.

Scope and themes

To promote aspects related to the use of therapeutic exercise as “medicine” in counteracting modern society’s disease through research, training and education.

The Clinical Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation cluster is engaged in research activities that primarily investigate the use of therapeutic exercise training for maintaining or improving health (mental and physical) and quality of life in people with chronic diseases or conditions. Our research focuses mostly on how exercise therapies are beneficial for different disease and clinical populations, such as non-communicable diseases (cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, cancer, chronic pain etc).

The Exercise Medicine cluster is a multidisciplinary team which includes physicians, clinical exercise physiologists, psychologists, nutritionists, physiotherapists, biomechanists and muscle physiologists.

Research themes:

Promoting “exercise as medicine” in chronic conditions

Promoting research on the effects of exercise in maintaining health and improving quality of life in chronic diseases patients

Establishing therapeutic exercise as part of standard care in various disease conditions